Do what the Bible Says - James 1:22

 James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

A few examples of what it says: 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us to give cheerfully. Proverbs 21:26 tells us to give without sparing. Luke 6:38 tells us to give and we will receive back a full packed-down measure. We’ve heard all of these in the last few months. 

I think we all agree and believe these, at least in our heads. Moving this down the 12 inches needed to get into our heart can be a bit challenging. Oswald Chambers said

“It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment.”

If we don’t have a vision or a call, we get to do what makes sense to us and call it “God’s work”. It looks great to the world, it feels good. It even does good. But as we learn in Lifetime Guarantee, God isn’t concerned about our results - that’s His job. God cares about our methods, and that requires total dependence upon Him. And what does that require?

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith requires an object. In who or what should ours be? God of course. Faith in what He provides, such as food, clothing, and shelter? Well, let’s look at Matthew 6:33

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek first His kingdom. FIRST, seek His kingdom. This is the opposite of common sense. Common sense tells us that we need to first search for food, clothing, and shelter, and then everything else might be okay. But Scripture tells us in verse 33 to seek God first. Verse 34 tells us this:

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So do you worry, or do you have conviction of things not seen? I encourage you to go with what God says and remind you of James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Offering prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the wise teachings of James. We realise how important it is to not only have a genuine faith by trusting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, but to be  fruitful Christians in word and in deed. Keep us from worldly ways of relying on our common sense and from slipping back in the carnality of fleshly living, but may we grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as we abide in Him. May we bring forth much fruit to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Giving Widely and Generously - Proverbs 11:24

Proverbs 11:24

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,

And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.

I see two ways to read this. The first is the literal - One scatters what he has - gives widely and generously - and he increases all the more. Picture scattering seed after which the harvest is plentiful. One withholds what he should be scattering, and he ends up only wanting - both because his harvest is light and because he continues to want more and more, never satisfied.

But also consider that what we should scatter is God’s word. What happens when we share the word with others, when we teach another person? Our own understanding grows also. While the one who withholds God’s word never gets to see God at work in others and doesn’t develop a deeper understanding and relationship with God.

Offering prayer

Heavenly Father, we confess that it's sometimes hard to be generous, to give freely of our time, resources, and talents. We ask that you would help us overcome our tendency towards selfishness and greed. Help us to be more like you, who gives so generously to us. We pray that you would fill our hearts with a spirit of generosity, and that we would trust in your provision, knowing that you bless those who are a blessing to others. We thank you for your word, and ask that you embolden us to share it widely with the people we meet. May we be a source of refreshment and blessing to those around us, and may we experience the abundance that comes from living a life of generosity. In Jesus' name, Amen." 

Give Without Expecting Repayment - Deuteronomy 15:10

In Deuteronomy chapter 15, we learn that every 7 years is a “Sabbatic Year” when the people were to forgive debts that others owed them. They were to lend to people in need for whatever they lacked.They are cautioned against refusing to lend in the year before the Sabbatic year, knowing that they had to forgive the debt the following year. The person in need could cry to the Lord against you and it would be sin in you. Then comes this command from God: 

Deuteronomy 15:10 

You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

God tells us to give generously, and not only that, don’t get upset that you won’t be paid back. God will bless you. 

Who among us hasn’t been blessed by God? I am certain that sometimes He engineers our circumstances in order to show us that He provides through each other, thus strengthening our faith and opening our eyes to those in need. 

Remember, all we have is from Him. God provides for us for His purposes, and very often He makes those purposes crystal clear to us, and in addition to helping others, one of those purposes is very clearly to support our local church. 

Offering Prayer

Heavenly Father, we recognize that everything in the world is yours, from which you provide for us. We ask that you cultivate a generous heart in each of us, that we are able to give cheerfully to those in need you lead us to, as well as to this church called Fellowship Baptist. Please bless these offerings that they are used to glorify you. 

We pray this in Jesus’s Name, amen. 

The Truth Frees Us Free to Give Freely - Proverbs 21:25-27

Proverbs 21:25-27 

25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,

For his hands refuse to work;

26 

All day long he [f]is craving,

While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,

How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

This passage tells me that lazy people want everything to be handed to them, and tend not to be very generous. They just keep looking for the next thing that they want. While those who trust in the Lord’s provision know that the next thing they need is already on the way, since God already knows what it is. Jesus says the truth shall set us free, and this truth frees us to give generously. 

I don’t have much to say about verse 27. It speaks for itself. However, I did read this week that the reason Cain’s offering was rejected was that he offered God kale. 

Offering Prayer

The temptation of laziness, desiring ease and comfort over diligence and work, can be strong. Strength is needed to overcome this temptation, and resist the allure of idleness that can lead to spiritual and physical ruin.

You contrast between the sluggard's endless craving and the righteous who "give without sparing". A spirit of generosity is needed, to not only work diligently for what is needed but also to be a blessing to others. We ask Your help to be like the righteous, freely sharing resources and time with those in need.

We need hearts that are pure and motives that are right before You, Lord. Lead us to actions in work or worship that are done with sincerity and a genuine desire to honor You.

We commit our lives, work, and into Your hands, knowing that with You, all things are possible. 

 In Jesus' name, Amen.

Giving Produces Thanksgiving to God in Us - 2 Corinthians 9:10-12

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.

Paul is saying here that our giving produces thanksgiving to God.

Matthew Henry’s commentary says “We must show the reality of our subjection to the gospel, by works of charity. This will be for the credit of our profession (of faith in Jesus), and to the praise and glory of God.”

Our thoughtful, willing, and cheerful giving pleases God. Not only that, but it glorifies God. How does it do that? If people are thanking God for something, then they are clearly attributing that something to God, so the invisible God is made visible, i.e. He is glorified.

Offertory Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your abundant blessings. We recognize that You are the one who provides us with everything, from the seed of life to the bread for our sustenance. We praise You for enriching us in every way, so that we might be generous in every way. As we give, we ask that You would multiply our gifts and increase the harvest of righteousness in our lives. May our generosity lead to thanksgiving and glory to You, and may Your kingdom be built through our service. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

God Is Our Security - Proverbs 29:25

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.

Paul is saying here that our giving produces thanksgiving to God.

Matthew Henry’s commentary says “We must show the reality of our subjection to the gospel, by works of charity. This will be for the credit of our profession (of faith in Jesus), and to the praise and glory of God.”

Our thoughtful, willing, and cheerful giving pleases God. Not only that, but it glorifies God. How does it do that? If people are thanking God for something, then they are clearly attributing that something to God, so the invisible God is made visible, i.e. He is glorified.

Offertory Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your abundant blessings. We recognize that You are the one who provides us with everything, from the seed of life to the bread for our sustenance. We praise You for enriching us in every way, so that we might be generous in every way. As we give, we ask that You would multiply our gifts and increase the harvest of righteousness in our lives. May our generosity lead to thanksgiving and glory to You, and may Your kingdom be built through our service. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Don't Grow Weary in Your Service - Galatians 10:9

Galatians 10:9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Here Paul is encouraging believers to persevere, reassuring them that at some point, they will get to see some results.

In the section before this verse, we should look at what he is talking about. He starts with restoring trespassers to fellowship in a spirit of gentleness. The word for gentle used here is the same as the one in the beatitudes - blessed are the gentle - which we learned denotes someone using great power in a restrained way. We must take care not to be  tempted ourselves.

We must bear one another’s burdens and not think we’re all that and a bag-a-chips when we do it, lest we deceive ourselves. Look at our own work, and no one else’s.

We’re told to support those who teach the Word, share all good things with them. So if you have a Big Mac, send half of it to our pastor.

We’re warned that God sees all, so don’t deceive yourself about what you’re doing. Sow according to the Spirit from which we’ll reap eternal life, not according to the flesh from which we’ll reap corruption.

Here’s where he tells us not to grow weary, and tells us to do good while we have the opportunity. Here I’m reminded of an episode from 30 years ago when I lived with my parents after living with my friends for a few years, where chop-bustin’ was frequent and had become an art form. I was shining my shoes in my room when my dad came by and said “I didn’t know you were polishing shoes!” My reply was “because then you would have thought I was going to do yours!” I thought I was funny, not really thinking that my dad was my father, not simply a roommate. I never got another opportunity to do good like that for him. I know that I am not condemned for this simple act, but 27 years after losing my dad, I still regret it. Take advantage of the opportunities when they appear. Those are often God’s invitations to join Him in His work.

I would encourage you to give to our church as God is leading you, because today is the only opportunity you have with your circumstances exactly like they are right now. Don’t miss the chance to do exactly what God is calling you to do. Today could be the day you step out in faith and have God reveal Himself to you in a new way.

Offering Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that you would strengthen and encourage us all so we do not grow weary or discouraged. Remind us that You always provide us what we need to do Your will. Galatians 6:9 tells us that Your will is for us to do good, to serve you faithfully, and that You promise to bless us. We pray that we get to see the harvest of our reaping. We’d rather get to see it right away, but we trust You when You say we will get to see it, even if that isn’t until we are with You in Heaven. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.